The Illinois Council on Economic Education, through funding and in cooperation with the National Council on Economic Education, has developed this International Classroom website in support of the first International Classroom Partnership Program. Four Illinois high school teachers have been selected to participate in a year-long (2004-2005 academic year) Classroom Partnership with schools in Romania. The program includes three phases:

1. Preparation and study tour to Romania by U.S. teachers (Fall 2004)
2. Implementation of classroom projects by Romanian and U.S. teachers (Academic year)
3. Study tour to U.S. by Romanian partner teachers (Spring 2005)

Through the study tours and ongoing communications, U.S. teachers are developing relationships with classroom teachers in Romania, creating partnerships in which students and teachers work on collaborative projects and establish ongoing communications with each other. These projects will focus on helping the students in each country learn basic economic concepts and come to better understand economic systems, as well as current issues facing each economy.

The Fall 2004 study tour provided a unique educational opportunity for Illinois teachers to exchange ideas, teaching methodology and experiences in economic education with the Romanian partner high school teachers. The tour to an economy in transition from plan to market was a highly effective way of learning about the country and experiencing firsthand, not only the educational reforms underway, but also the everyday life of the people and the challenges of transition economies.

• Visited the four partner schools and observed classes (high school level).
• Met with Ministry of Education officials and other people instrumental in administering economic education within the partner country.
• Spent two days with partner teachers to plan the “classroom partnership” program activities
• Visited cultural and historic sites in Bucharest and the surrounding area to gain better understanding of the history and culture of Romania.